1 In tiie end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepul- chre.
2 And. behold, there was a great earthquake : for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.
8 His countenance was like light- ning, and his raiment white as snow.
4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men:
5 And the angel answered and said
unto the women, Fear not ye : for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.
6 He is not here : for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
_ 7 And go quickly, and teU his dis- ciples that he is risen from the dead : and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee ; there shall ye see him : lo, I have told you.
8 And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy ; and cUd run to bring his disciples word.
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9 And as they went to tell his disci- 10 Then said Jesus unto them, Bo
ple^*, behold, Jesus met them, saying All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.
not afraid : go tell my brt'throu that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.
The principal subject of these verses is the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead. It is one of those truths which lie at the very foundation of Christi- anity, and has therefore received special attention in the four Grospels. All four evangelists describe minutely • how our Lord was crucified. All four relate with no less | clearness, that He rose again.
We need not wonder that so much importance is attached to our Lord's resurrection. It is the seal and headstone of the great work of redemption, which He came to do. It is the crowning proof that He has paid the debt which He undertook to pay on our behalf, won the battle which He fought to deliver us from hell, and is accepted as our Surety and our Substitute by our Father in heaven. Had He never come forth from the prison of the grave, how could we ever have been sure that our ransom had been fully paid.? (1 Cor. xv. 17.) Had He never risen from His conflict with the last enemy, how could we have felt confident, that He has overcome death, and him that had the power of death, that is the devil ? (Heb. ii. 14.) But thanks be unto God, we are not left in doubt. The Lord Jesus really ^' rose again for our justification." True Christians are " begotten again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." They may boldly say with Paul, " Who is he that condemneth : it is Christ that died, yea rather that is risen again." (Rom. viii. 34. Rom. iv. 25. 1 Peter i. 3.)
We have reason to be very thankful, that this wonder-